A permit is required when you perform work in the right of way of
an Interstate, U.S. or state highway. All of these highways make up
the state trunk highway (STH) system.
The work may consist of, but is not limited to:
Excavating
Placing fill materials
Grading
Paving
Surveying
Boring under a highway
Installing an overhead line
Blocking traffic
You must obtain a permit prior to the start of any work and have
a copy of the permit at the work-site at all times.
Permits are issued by the Wisconsin Department of
Transportation (WisDOT) on most numbered highways. However, many
cities and villages issue permits
for work performed on state and U.S. highways located within their
boundaries. Please check with WisDOT or the municipality to
determine which agency has the permitting authority.
There are three main types of permits for work in state highway
right of way:
Utility permits are required to construct, operate or maintain a
utility facility. This includes, but is not limited to:
Gas
Electric
Telephone
Cable television
Cellular
Fiber optics
Water (including irrigation lines)
Sanitary sewer
WisDOT has developed
a comprehensive Utility Accommodation
Policy (UAP) that regulates the construction, operation,
and maintenance of utility facilities on all state highways under
WisDOT's jurisdiction. The UAP details all of the requirements
necessary to obtain a permit. Once approved, the permit remains in
effect as long as the facility is operated and maintained according
to permit and UAP conditions.
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Utility relocations on highway projects
If you have questions pertaining to the relocation of utility
facilities associated with highway improvement projects, contact one
of the utility coordinators
in the transportation region office responsible for the project. These projects may or
may not require a WisDOT utility permit.
Michael Baumann
Wisconsin DOT
Bureau of Technical Services
P.O. Box 7916 - Room 651
Madison, WI 53707-7916
(608) 267-4461 or (715) 421-7393 michael.baumann@dot.state.wi.us
(Driveway, public or private road, and recreational trail
permits)
Introduction
A driveway, public or private road, or recreational trail is a connection between property that abuts state trunk highway
(STH) right of way and the highway itself. A
STH connection permit is required when property owners and local agencies want to:
Construct a new connection
Remove an existing connection
Relocate an existing connection
Alter an existing connection, which includes a change of use
Validate an existing unpermitted connection (when legal)
“Alter” means any change done to a connection beyond routine maintenance such as widening, paving, replacing a culvert, and improvements to the highway.
“Change of use” means any modification to a property that results in a change in the number and/or types of vehicles using a property’s connection. Property modifications may include, but are not limited to:
Changing from a residential to a commercial or industrial use
Changing from single to multiple residential use
Subdividing to accommodate additional residences or businesses
Changing the type of business
On state trunk highways under WisDOT jurisdiction, permits are required
to:
Construct a new driveway or road/street connection
Alter an existing driveway or road/street connection
Change the use (residential, commercial, field entrance, etc.)
of an existing driveway
Classifications and restrictions
A connection is classified by its use or how it serves a property. Types of use include:
1. Commercial/industrial: A driveway or private road that serves a business or non-profit organization.
2. Residential: A driveway or private road that serves single and multiple family homes, apartments, condominiums, townhouses, etc.
3. Agricultural: A field entrance and entrances to recreational or hunting lands. This use may also serve to provide an entrance to farm buildings but not residential buildings.
4. Public Road: A road, street, highway, etc. connecting to a state trunk highway that is maintained by a local unit of government. A road not maintained by a unit of government is categorized under 1 or 2.
5. Trail or Trail Crossing: Any pedestrian, bicycle, snowmobile, equestrian, etc., trail that runs longitudinally along and/or crosses a state trunk highway.
Some properties have access restrictions. Examples of restrictions include:
No direct access is allowed to a state trunk highway
Only one connection is allowed to a state trunk highway
A connection has a specific use (for example, agricultural – not residential or commercial)
A connection has to be built at a specific location
A connection has right-in, right-out turns only (no median opening allowed)
A property or group of properties may also have multiple access restrictions, which should be specified in the property
deed(s).
If a property has access restrictions, WisDOT may not be able to issue a STH connection permit or may only be able to issue a permit that meets the restrictions. WisDOT may also issue a STH connection permit with certain restrictions in order to ensure the safety and operability of a state trunk highway, for example, limiting the connection to a certain type of use or a maximum number of vehicles per day.
How to apply for a STH connection permit
Download or print form DT1504 -Application/Permit for Connection to State Trunk Highwayand follow the instructions. If you print the form, fill it out in ink and mail a copy to WisDOT. If you fill out the form by computer, you can either mail it or submit it electronically as an e-mail attachment to WisDOT. The completed form must be sent to the
WisDOT regional transportation
officeresponsible for the county where the connection is or will be located. The hyperlinked document in the last sentence also contains a list of WisDOT staff for each county who can answer your connection related questions.
In addition to the application form, you will need to provide:
Design details (dimensions, type/size of culverts, materials, surface grades, etc.)
A copy of the property deed
A copy of a certified survey map (if applicable)
Evidence of a land division (if applicable)
You may also be asked to provide some type of proof that you have the authority to apply for a permit if you are not the property owner. A copy of an “Offer to Purchase Property” is an example of such proof. Any of the above referenced items may be submitted electronically if you are submitting your application electronically.
Once issued, a STH connection permit remains in effect until cancellation by the property owner or local agency, expiration of a temporary permit date, or revocation by WisDOT.
Existing connections without permits
If an existing connection on your property does not have a valid WisDOT STH connection permit, you may be able to obtain a permit if it meets current law, standards and policy or if the connection can be legally altered or relocated to do so. Contact the WisDOT regional transportation office responsible for the county where the connection is located and a staff person will evaluate your situation. If an existing unpermitted connection meets current law, standards and policy, WisDOT may issue a connection permit to a property owner without his/her involvement or signature. This might occur when WisDOT conducts an inventory of its connections along a STH, for example, with a highway improvement project.
Maintenance
Property owners and local agencies are expected to perform routine maintenance on the portion of their connections within state trunk highway
right of way whether or not the connections have a valid WisDOT permit or are nonconforming. Routine maintenance includes items like sealing asphalt, grading gravel, culvert replacement and cleanout, and minor repairs. This type of work can usually be done without a permit unless the work affects traffic in some manner or could interfere with a WisDOT highway improvement or maintenance project.
A permit is required for any other state highway right of way work that is not related to
utilities, driveways or road/street connections. This work may
include, but is not limited to:
Storm sewers
Drain pipes and drain tiles
Landscaping
Ground monitoring wells
Surveying
Soil borings
Accident investigation and clean-up
Removal of contaminated soils
How to obtain a permit
Contact the transportation region office
responsible for the county where the proposed work will be located. You will be asked to complete
form DT1812 -
Application/Permit To Work on Highway Right of Way, and provide a complete
description of the proposed work along with detail drawings,
construction methods, types of materials, and the length of time
needed to complete the work.
Questions on WisDOT policy can be directed to:
Robert Fasick
Wisconsin DOT
Bureau of Highway Operations
P.O. Box 7986 - Room 501
Madison, WI 53707-7986
(608) 266-3438
robert.fasick@dot.state.wi.us
All external hyperlinks are provided for your information and for the benefit of the general public.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation does not testify to, sponsor or endorse the accuracy of the information provided on externally linked pages.
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Questions about the content of this
page:
Robert Fasick, robert.fasick@dot.state.wi.us
Last modified: August 27, 2008
in the transportation region office responsible for the county where your project will
be located. You will be asked to complete
form 
